Wildlife disease reservoirs: the epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis infection in the European badger (Meles meles) and other British mammals

Mycobacterium bovis infection has been confirmed in a wide range of mammals hosts throughout the world. The European badger (Meles meles) and the brus htail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) are implicated as significant sources of infection for domestic cattle in the UK and New Zealand respectively. Th e risk of transmission of infection between a wildlife population and domes tic animals will be determined by both the epidemiology of the disease and the ecology of the host. In the UK, surveys by the UK Ministry of Agricultu re, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) have identified M, bovis infection in deer (C ervus sp., Capreolus sp., Dama sp.), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), mink (Mustela vison), feral ferret (Mustela furo), mole (Talpa europaea), brown rat (Rat tus norvegicus) and feral cat (Felis catus). However, the potential contrib ution to cattle herd breakdowns, of reservoirs of M, bovis infection in mam mals other than the badger is poorly understood and is the subject of curre nt research. In contrast, M, bovis infection in the badger has been the sub ject of a long term ecological and epidemiological study at Woodchester Par k in South-West England, where the prevalence and distribution of infection in a wild population has been intensively monitored. The pattern of infect ion in the population and potential risks to cattle, are profoundly influen ced by badger social organization and behaviour. The pattern of land use an d cattle farming practices in the UK brings badgers into close contact with domestic animals and provides conditions that may enhance the likelihood o f disease transfer. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.